Anthony is 18!!!!!!!

How did the years pass so quickly.  Anthony turned 18 today!  He will be starting college in a couple of weeks!  He has been working hard trying to get everything done that needs to be done to start.  When we think we have it all done he finds out he needs to do something else.  So we are crossing our fingers that everything gets done in time.


For his birthday dinner Anthony wanted ribs and german chocolate cake :) 

My wish for my boy....be strong, be kind, be helpful, make good choices.  Grow into the man I know you can be.

A Midsummer Nights Dream!!!

I have had the most wonderful experience!!!  I was asked to direct the summer show for Actors Playhouse of Georgetown.  I had never directed anything before but had produced several shows and have been involved in many more in one form or fashion :)  A Midsummer Nights Dream is one of my favorite shows ever, honestly I think that is why I was asked...or maybe I just volunteered myself ;) 

We were auditioning 14 to 19 year olds for this show.  We did let a few younger people audition who were mature enough to handle Shakespeare.  Then we recruited a few more younger kids to play fairies and such.  I worked hard on this show and was very proud of the outcome.  We had several people drop out, we worked around it.  The kids were fantastic!!!  All three of mine were in the show...well I guess I should say 4 because Diesel was in the show as well!  Lee Cruse came out to do a segment for the news, I didn't do so well being on tv.  But the kids were great!! 

We are hoping to make the summer show always be Shakespeare with young people.  I have decided to work on Twelfth Night for summer 2015.  I hope everything works out and the theatre gets funding to keep the building but I do know this won't be the end of it even if the building goes away.   I have always been in love with theatre, this is a whole new level!!!

Anthony was Lysander.  Michael was Duke Theseus.  Jacob was Frances Flute and Thisby.  Diesel was "dog". 

The Star Crossed Lovers

 

 

My wonderful crew!!!!



 

 

 

 The Mechanicals!!!!

 

 

 My paper mache moon!!! 

Diesel in his costume as Dog/thornbush

 Wonderful cake made by Tia of Sweet Matriarch.

 

 

 Oh yeah....Jacob had to wear a dress.  He was a very good sport about it!!!

Cades Cove and Rich Mountain Trail

Today was a trip to Cades Cove.  We found a nice spot for a few pictures and then we headed to the Visitor Center.  There was a guy there playing banjo, guitar, dulcimer and a harpsichord.  We bought some tasty pumpkin butter. 

We cut back through the Cove on one of the cut through roads so we could go back and hit Rich Mountain Trail.  It is one of those unpaved not frequented roads :)  We didn't see one other person while on the tail. 

After the trail we headed to one of our favorite restaurants in Pigeon Forge, Huck Finns.  Michael and Anthony got catfish.  Jacob got gator tail!  He even ate the white beans there, he NEVER eats beans!  Michael ate all of his catfish but couldn't eat his mashed potatoes.  It might have as something to do with all the hush puppies they brought us before our meal! 

We got to the cabin a little early so I sat on the balcony off of our bedroom and worked on my play a little.  It was so nice out tonight that eventually all three boys were out there with me :) 

Michael lit the grill and they all made smores :)  We found the really cool special smores marshmallows here at Walmart.  Couldn't kind them at home!

And after loading the pictures for today I realized that Anthony didn't get out of the Jeep when I was taking pictures.

                                          Saw this really awesome gate at the end of the trail.

Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail

We had a nice drive through Roaring Fork today.  There were some really pretty spots to take pictures.  But I will say that I prefer the gravel roads that are less touristy.  The Motor trail was crowded!!  We tried to go find another trail that David had keyed into his GPS last time we were her but on the way we saw the Jeepism place and stopped there.  Michael got a shirt, Jacob got a hat.  Anthony decided he didn't want anything.  David found some handles to attach to the big plastic bin we got to carry our stuff on a rack on the back of the Jeep.  We bought it so we could bring the dog with us.  He is enjoying all the walks he is getting but I think he would be happier at our friend Brandi's house. 

We never found the other trail.  We decided to just go on back to the cabin when the GPS said it was and hour and a half to the trail!  Everything takes so long to get to here.  Not because its that far away, but because the roads are crazy curvy and the speed limit is low.  We grilled smoked sausage dogs and had potato salad and chips.  And of course all the boys had smores afterwards :)


 

Smoky Mountains

Yesterday we all piled in the Jeep, it was tricky getting the dog in with everything else.  Before we left Anthony gave me chocolates and a card for mothers day.  Diesel did pretty well during the drive.  We stopped and got lunch at a drive through and he poked his head up asking where his food was ;) 

We stopped at Smoky Mountain Knife works before we got to the cabin.  Jacob and I stayed outside with Diesel.  We got them out and walked him and gave him some water.  We managed to get him back in the Jeep just the two of us! 

After we got to the cabin and brought the dog and our clothes in we headed back out to find dinner and Walmart.  We couldn't bring any food with us because we brought the dog and he is pretty huge.  One of the main reasons we picked this cabin was because it said it had a charcoal grill.  Well they didn't, only a propane gas one.  And it wasn't a very good one at all!  The burners were touching the grill top.  So at Walmart we found a small little charcoal grill for 15 dollars. 

We got up this morning and headed into the National Park.  We went the south eastern part of the park.  We took some dirt roads up and down mountains.  It took us over and hour to go 16 miles!  The roads weren't really bad just very winding.   We got back to the cabin and cooked hamburgers on out little grill.  And we made smores afterwards! 

We had lunch at this really cool rock,

Were even on the Blue Ridge Parkway for a little bit today!!!

The view from our cabins balcony.

Comic Con 2014

Michael, Jacob and I went to Comic Con in Lexington today.  We recently watched Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure again and thought they would make most excellent costumes!!   We spent a couple of weeks gathering parts.  I really enjoyed making these costumes!  


We got there about 10:15 and waited in line forever!!  It was a mad house and took forever to even find the line we needed to be in.  We finally got into the convention hall around 11:30.  It was extremely crowded.  They had a Tardis and a pretty cool Star Wars display.  Several people stopped the boys and asked if they could take a picture with them.  They were very excited about it.  We took pictures with Lou Ferrigno, the original Incedible Hulk and Felix Silla, he was cousin it in the Adams Family and an Ewok in Star Wars. 

We left and went to Saul Good for lunch and the boys played at Triangle park for a while.

I had a really good time looking at all the costumes, some people take it really seriously!  On the way home we stopped by a Circle K to do a little filming :)

Frankie from Donnie Darko

Lou Ferrigno...He doesn't look like he is in his 60's!!!!!

The first person to ask to take a picture with the boys.

They were have a great time!!!

Felix Silla

Strange things are afoot at the Circle K